Where does “xylophage” come from?

xylophage (English) comes from English phage, from Ancient Greek -φάγος, from Ancient Greek ἔφαγον, from Proto-Indo-European bʰh₂g-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂g- — to divide, distribute, allot.

xylophage (English): Any living organism that feeds on wood

Definitions

  1. Any living organism that feeds on wood

Ancestry of “xylophage”, step by step

xylophage traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English phage

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishphageA virus that is parasitic on bacteria
2Ancient Greek-φάγοςeater; eater; glutton; -eating
3Ancient GreekἔφαγονI ate, devoured
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰh₂g-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂g-to divide, distribute, allot

via English xylo

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishxyloxylophone
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂g- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰh₂g- →Every word from Ancient Greek -φάγος →